JBC starts selection of deputy ombudsman

Manila, Philippines - The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has started its selection process for the replacement of Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, who resigned earlier this month in the wake of several administrative charges filed against him.

In an advertisement in The STAR yesterday, the JBC announced the vacancy and invitation for filing of applications and recommendations for the position of deputy ombudsman for Luzon.

The JBC gave aspirants 10 days or until May 9 to submit applications or recommendations.

“Those who applied before this vacancy was declared open must manifest in writing their continuing interest on or before the said deadline,” the JBC said.

In case of recommendations, the recommendees must signify their acceptance “either in the recommendation letter itself or in a separate document.”

New applicants have until May 13 to submit necessary requirements before public interviews would be set.

Under JBC rules, President Aquino has 90 days from the vacancy or until July 29 to appoint a new deputy ombudsman.

The JBC started to process the selection for Jalandoni’s replacement the same day Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned. The eight-man body is also expected to process the selection for the next ombudsman.

Jalandoni resigned last April 7 after three administrative complaints were filed against him before the deputy executive secretary for legal affairs.

In one of the complaints, litigant Antonio Baltazar accused Jalandoni of usurping the functions of the Assistant Ombudsman when he dismissed Baltazar’s complaint against the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Serve the People Movement Inc., an anti-corruption advocacy group, filed another complaint against Jalandoni for “dishonesty, grave misconduct, falsification of documents.”

“These constitute betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution in line with his (Jalandoni) move to approve or disapprove decisions made by other deputies who are his co-equal,” read the complaint.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo named Jalandoni deputy ombudsman for Luzon in March 2010.

Before that, he headed the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office.

He was state prosecutor at the Department of Justice and program director of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program before he joined the Office of the Ombudsman.

He also once served as undersecretary at the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.